Relatives of Lucas Paqueta are reportedly being probed over bank payments made to another Brazilian player, as the West Ham star faces charges of spot-fixing.
Paqueta was charged by the Football Association in May, with the midfielder accused of being deliberately booked in an attempt to influence betting markets.
The FA are alleging that Paqueta was deliberately booked in top-flight matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth so that either he and/or his friends could profit from bets placed on him being carded.
Brazilian news website UOL has reported Paqueta’s uncle Bruno Tolentino and son Yan made two payments to another player, Luiz Henrique, in early 2023.
The payments, totalling over £5,000, were made shortly after the Brazilian forward had been booked in two matches playing to Spanish side Real Betis.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is fighting FA charges over alleged breaches of betting rules
Two of Paqueta’s relatives have reportedly admitted making payments to fellow Brazilian player Luiz Henrique when he was at Real Betis, but deny they were linked to sports betting
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Henrique had been booked in Real Betis’ 1-0 win over Getafe on January 28 in 2023, as well as in their 4-3 defeat against Celta Vigo on February 4. The forward had played the final 11 minutes of the match.
UOL reported Henrique had received 10,000 Brazilian reals (£1,370) from Yan’s bank account on January 30, before receiving 30,000 reals (R$30,000) Bruno’s account on February 6.
Bruno Tolentino was reported to have admitted the payments an interview with the website, but said they were made to pay off a loan and unconnected to betting.
‘It was money that I owed him and I paid it. It was an agreement between us,’ he said.
‘How can I say? It was money that I owed him and he had lent it to me. We agreed to pay it back and we did. When I had the money to pay it back, I paid it.’
Tolentino admitted to UOL that he has won money on bets placed on matches involving Henrique, but denied having ‘privileged information’.
Henrique’s agent Junior Mendonza said the forward denies the accusations.
‘Forward Luiz Henrique has already provided his due clarifications on the matter to the responsible bodies,’ he said. In fact, the case has already been investigated and archived by the Spanish Federation.
Henrique now plays for Brazilian side Botafogo after making an £18million move this summer
The FA have investigated suspicious betting patterns surrounding four bookings Paqueta picked up in 2022 and 2023
Paqueta expressed his surprise at the charges and continues to deny any wrongdoing
‘The issue coming to light at such a decisive moment for Botafogo and, in the week of the call-up for the Brazilian national team, surprised and surprised us, given that the player is not the subject of an investigation or procedure for violations of this nature.’
Henrique left Real Betis in the summer to join Brazilian club Botafogo for £18million. Botafogo repeated Henrique’s denial of the accusations and claimed the reports were an attempt to destablise the club ahead of their Copa Libertadores semi-final.
The Football Association, who have charged Paqueta, were reportedly unaware of the payments by the midfielder’s relatives to Henrique. The organisation are now said to be looking into the reports.
Paqueta has denied all the charges against him and has previously said that he ‘will fight with every breath to clear my name’.
Mail Sport exclusively broke the story of Paqueta’s betting probe back in August 2023, which led to the collapse of his prospective £85million move to Premier League champions Manchester City.
The FA’s sanctioning guidelines state that players found guilty of spot-fixing could face a ban of between six months and life.
Paqueta has been allowed to continue playing while the case remains ongoing.
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